Meet the Team

Executive Director

“In rural communities you find our past—our roots and heritage—and our future. These communities are important to who we are and who we will be. It’s why I believe they should have every opportunity to thrive through access to quality healthcare, education and economic opportunity.”

Chief Strategist

“Rural communities are beautiful places inhabited by resilient people, but they are also fragile in a way. Almost a quarter of America’s elderly and one in five children live in rural areas.  I want the people who live in rural communities to know that they are important to America’s past and future.”

Vice President, Programs & Strategy

“I believe rural communities deserve recognition and advocacy because of the crucial contributions they make to society. It’s incumbent upon us all to be informed advocates for our hard-working, rural neighbors.”

Chief Legal Officer

“Rural made me who I am today. Growing up in a small town I was lucky to have a support network of family, friends, and neighbors who all believed in caring for all members of our community. The spirit of looking out for others was and is entrenched in small town life. It is an honor to be a part of a foundation woven of this same fabric.”

Program Officer

“Rural matters to me because it encompasses the heart and soul of many communities across the globe, requiring resiliency in order to maintain a great community, vital relationships and ongoing engagement of the residents.”

Research Associate

“Good health and educational opportunities are so critical for success and satisfaction, and rural communities deserve access to resources that will ensure they can achieve this.”

Senior Administrator

“I live in rural Missouri. We laugh, cry, and work together. We stay connected to the land and each other. There is such diversity, beauty, and promise in our communities. It’s a way of life that should be both preserved and shared, and I am grateful to be a part of our Foundation's mission to make that happen."

Administrative & Operations Leader

“People shouldn’t have to relocate to find a better quality of life. I love finding organizations and individuals that are committed to cultivating their own back yards, and I’m glad that we as a foundation can help them step into their potential.”